Praia do Forno: The Pink Sand Beach Most Visitors to Búzios Never Find
Most visitors to Búzios never make it past the beaches closest to their hotel. The ones who do discover Praia do Forno — a beach with pink-tinted sand that exists nowhere else in Brazil, hidden behind a steep trail most people never attempt. Here's why it's worth the discovery, and the one detail that makes getting there effortless.
Ask ten people who've been to Búzios which beach surprised them the most, and a striking number will say the same thing: "the one with the pink sand — I almost didn't go."
That's Praia do Forno. And the "almost didn't go" part is not an accident — it's the reason most visitors to Búzios never see it.
Why Most People Never Find Praia do Forno
Búzios has over 20 beaches. The ones closest to the hotels and the centro histórico — Armação, Ossos, the beaches along the Orla Bardot — get discovered naturally because they're a five-minute walk from where everyone is staying.
Praia do Forno is different. It sits on the southern side of the peninsula, separated from the easy beaches by a stretch of road and, for anyone arriving on foot, a steep downhill trail that puts off most casual visitors before they even see the water.
That single barrier — the walk — is the entire reason this beach stays quieter than beaches with a fraction of its beauty.
What Makes the Sand Actually Pink
It's not a trick of the light or an Instagram filter. The sand at Praia do Forno carries a genuine pink-red tint, caused by garnet minerals washing down from the rocky cliffs that frame the beach on both sides. Mixed with the white sand, the result is a colour that doesn't exist on any other beach in Brazil.
It's most visible in direct sunlight, late morning to early afternoon, when the contrast between the rose-coloured sand and the turquoise water is at its sharpest.
The Water is the Other Surprise
Praia do Forno sits in a sheltered inlet, which keeps the water unusually calm and exceptionally clear — visibility good enough that the rocky seabed and small fish are visible from the surface without a mask. It's consistently named one of the best snorkelling spots on the entire peninsula, and the water carries Blue Flag certification alongside neighbouring Azeda and Azedinha — an international recognition for environmental quality that very few beaches in the region hold.
The trade-off: the water runs noticeably colder than the beaches on the northern side of Búzios. Worth knowing before you go in expecting Northeast-Brazil warmth.
What's Actually There
- Pink-tinted sand — the defining feature, unique in Brazil
- Rocky walls on both sides — create the sheltered, calm-water inlet
- Snorkelling — clear water and visible rock formations just off the shore
- A small kiosk — limited but enough for a caipirinha and a snack; this isn't a beach with rows of beach clubs
- A nearby viewpoint — the Forno Viewpoint sits about a kilometre away with a 360-degree view over the whole bay
It's deliberately less developed than Geribá or João Fernandes — which is exactly why people who find it tend to describe it as their favourite beach in Búzios, not the most photogenic one.
The Trail Most People Don't Attempt
On foot, reaching Praia do Forno means a stone and dirt trail with a steep, occasionally uneven descent — manageable for most people in normal conditions, genuinely unpleasant in midday heat carrying beach bags, and risky after rain when the path gets slippery.
It's the single biggest reason the beach stays quiet. Most visitors look at the trail from the top, decide it's not worth the effort with kids or coolers in tow, and turn back toward an easier beach instead.
The Detail That Changes Everything
The trail problem disappears completely if you arrive by buggy.
The private buggy tour that covers Búzios's 8 beaches and 3 viewpoints includes Praia do Forno as one of its core stops — and the buggy drives directly to the beach access point, skipping the steep walk entirely. You step off the vehicle and you're already there. No trail, no heat, no second-guessing whether it's worth it.
It's the difference between Praia do Forno being a "maybe, if we feel like the walk" beach and a guaranteed stop on the day's itinerary.
Why It's Worth Building Into Your Day
Praia do Forno isn't a beach you stumble onto by accident from your hotel. It has to be a deliberate stop — which means most short-stay visitors skip it entirely in favour of whatever's within walking distance.
That's the opportunity. A beach that's genuinely one of the most distinctive in Brazil, quieter than the famous names, with better water clarity than most of the peninsula — sitting a short buggy ride away from wherever you're staying.
Best Time to Visit
- Late morning (10am–12pm): best light for the pink sand colour, before the kiosk area gets busy
- Early afternoon: calmest water for snorkelling, sun directly overhead
- Avoid right after heavy rain — the trail becomes slippery and visibility in the water can drop temporarily
How to Get There Without the Trail
Our private buggy tour stops at Praia do Forno as part of the full 8-beach, 3-viewpoint route around the peninsula — driving directly to the beach access, no walking required. The tour includes hotel pickup, runs 90 minutes and costs R$100 per person, with no upfront payment.
Booking is by WhatsApp — tell us your hotel name and preferred time, and we confirm availability immediately.
To put this plan into action, check our private buggy tour in Búzios. And if you want a longer day, we also run boat tour in Búzios.
Book your private buggy tour in Búzios directly on WhatsApp — no deposit required.